Movement modification of feed streams in separation apparatus

Abstract

A swirl generator is described for use in a cyclonic evaporator to receive fluid axially and discharge the fluid tangentially through one or more outlets. The swirl generator is moveable so as to be separated from the evaporation tube so as to facilitate clean in place practices overcoming the need to remove the evaporation tube which can in some instances be up to twelve meters long. Movement of the head allows relatively fast and efficient cleaning of the cyclonic evaporator.

1 . A swirl generator comprising an open end located at or towards one end of the generator for receiving fluid therethrough, a side wall portion and a closed end located at or towards another end of the generator, said side wall portion extending between the open end and the closed end, wherein the open end is part of an inlet for admitting fluid into the generator and that at least one outlet is provided in the side wall and/or closed end of the generator for discharging fluid from the generator and tube wall in a swirling motion wherein the generator is provided with a motion modifying element for influencing the flow of material discharged from the outlet.  
     
     
         2 . A cyclonic evaporator including a swirl generator and at least one evaporation tube in which fluid admitted to the generator is discharged from the generator to the evaporation tube, the generator comprising an open end located at or towards one end, a closed end located at or towards another end and a side wall portion extending between the open end and the closed end wherein the open end is an inlet for admitting fluid to the generator and at least one outlet is provided in the side wall and/or closed end for discharging fluid from the generator in a swirling motion.  
     
     
         3 . A method of treating a fluid having at least two components to at least partially separate the components from each other using a cyclonic evaporator in which fluid admitted to the generator is discharged from the generator in a swirling motion.  
     
     
         4 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which the motion modifying element is a surface protection or interruption on the outer surface of the head.  
     
     
         5 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which the motion modifying element is a ring, collar, flange, or the like located at or towards the base of the head.  
     
     
         6 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which the swirl generator is an inline swirl generator.  
     
     
         7 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which the swirl generator is a distributor for distributing fluid to more than a single evaporation tube.  
     
     
         8 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which there is one, two, three, four or more conduits, bores, ports, orifices, appetures, grooves or the like provided in the generator.  
     
     
         9 . A generator according to  claim 8  in which the conduits etc are straight, spiral, curved, helical or the like and are arranged to extend through the thickness of the wall or end of the generator.  
     
     
         10 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which that the swirl generator is a substantially or generally tangential flow swirl generator in which at least part of the inlet is arranged to extend axially along the central axis of the generator for receiving incoming feed material and the outlet or outlets are arranged to discharge material tangentially or substantially tangentially to the central axis of the generator.  
     
     
         11 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which the swirl generator is substantially circular or cylindrical.  
     
     
         12 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which the outlet or outlets are located at or towards the closed end of the generator and extend from the internal well of the head to discharge feed material from the outside surface of the head.  
     
     
         13 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which the outlet or outlets are located in the side wall portion of the generator near to or adjacent the closed end.  
     
     
         14 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which the bore size of the conduit forming the outlet or outlets is from about 0.5 mm to about 10 mm, preferably from about 0.1 mm to 6 mm, more preferably from about 2 mm to 5 mm, even more preferably about 3 mm to 4 mm and most preferably from about 3.5 mm to 3.6 mm.  
     
     
         15 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which the head is removable from the evaporator tube.  
     
     
         16 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which the swirl generator is a floating head arrangement which is received in a seat located at or towards the top of the evaporator tube.  
     
     
         17 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which the swirl generator is rotatable within the seat.  
     
     
         18 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which the generator can be rotated substantially continuously, intermittently, periodically or randomly.  
     
     
         19 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which the head can be displaced away from the seat by backwashing, flooding or flushing the tube.  
     
     
         20 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which movement of the head with respect to the tube provides clearance between the tube and the head to be increased in order to facilitate the cleaning of the tube by allowing cleaning preparation to pass between the head and the tube to dislodge any foreign material that may have accumulated in the region of the head.  
     
     
         21 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which the generator is an axially moveable or pop up head which can move under the action of a cleaning solution being backwashed or flooded through the tube.  
     
     
         22 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which the generator is a self cleaning head in which fluid is allowed to drain away from the head through the tube owing to the lose fit of the head in the tube.  
     
     
         23 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which the head is interchangeable so that a variety of different heads can be interchanged.  
     
     
         24 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which use of the swirl generator results in improved thermal efficiency of the fluid being swirled axially along the walls of the evaporation tube in a downwards helical flow or similar flow or pattern.  
     
     
         25 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which use of the swirl generator increases the U factor or U value of the heat transfer of the cyclonic evaporator.  
     
     
         26 . A swirl generator according to  claim 1  in which the U value is in the range of from about 1,500 to 20,000, preferably up to about 15,000, more preferably in the range of from about 2,000 to 10,000, even more preferably in the range from about 2,500 to 8,000 even more preferably from about 3,000 to 6,000 and most preferably in the range from about 3,000 to 4,000.  
     
     
         27 . (Canceled)